Shloka 61
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
इत्युक्त्वा स तु धर्मात्मा वृद्धों राजा कुरूद्वह: । गान्धारीं शिश्रिये धीमान् सहसैव गतासुवत्
ity uktvā sa tu dharmātmā vṛddho rājā kurūdvahaḥ | gāndhārīṃ śiśriye dhīmān sahasaiva gatāsuvat ||
Dicho esto, el rey anciano de alma justa—el más excelso de los Kurus, el sabio Dhṛtarāṣṭra—se apoyó de inmediato en Gāndhārī, quedando de pronto como si estuviera sin vida.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and existential truth of human frailty: even a king, praised as dharmātmā and kurūdvahaḥ, becomes physically overwhelmed. It also points to dharma expressed through relational duty and compassion—Gāndhārī becomes the immediate support when strength fails.
After speaking (contextually, concluding a statement in the forest-ascetic setting of the Āśramavāsika narrative), the aged Dhṛtarāṣṭra suddenly loses strength and leans on Gāndhārī, appearing momentarily like one without life.